“I didn’t realise just how funny the original stories are!”
What drew you to adapt Sherlock Holmes for the stage / what is your personal connection to them?
Having adapted The Great Gatsby and A Christmas Carol, I was definitely ready for another adaptation challenge! I wanted to do something well known, familiar, but with plenty of scope for playing with the form and structure. I watched the many different versions of the Sherlock stories as I was growing up, and of course loved the modern re-telling with Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman (several episodes of which were written by one of my oldest friends, who was also the person who encouraged me to start writing).
What excited you most about adapting the Sherlock stories?
Before adapting them I knew they were intricate, clever and filled with lots of colourful characters. But what I didn’t realise was just how funny they were – Arthur Conan Doyle was such a witty writer!
I started writing comedy years ago. I’d grown up watching every television comedy that I could (often sitting at the bottom of the stairs where I could just about see the TV when I was supposed to be in bed!) I was then lucky to get my first proper break in TV comedy writing and performing. So comedy is a big part of my life.It has been such a fun opportunity to take a text that is already so hilarious and to hopefully ‘turn the funny up’ wherever I can (whilst also honouring the original text and tone).
I sometimes get into conversations with people about what makes something funny and for me, I think it is ‘juxtapositions’: putting things together that have no place being together. Which you’ll be seeing a lot of!
I’m also really excited to bring all the different locations from the novels to life. Going from iconic parts of London, to country retreats, big houses and dramatic mountain-tops. It’s going to be a whirlwind!
What is unique about your version of Sherlock Holmes?
When I started the adaptation process, I didn’t know whether I wanted to tell one of the stories or a few of them: what I’ve tried to do is somewhere in-between.
I’ve taken a couple of the really well known stories – the kind that people recognise instantly. But I’ve also taken some of the stories that are far less well known that I personally think are superb and should be known!
They’re all written so beautifully, with so much colour and humour, so I’ve tried to bring out and emphasise those aspects in my version.
You’ve previously adapted A Christmas Carol and The Great Gatsby for OVO, how do you approach the process?
With each adaptation I try to put my own stamp on it, but try to stay as faithful as I can to the storyline and words of the original text. That faithfulness is always really important to me because there’s a reason why these novels are classics and we have to respect that – whilst also amplifying and embellishing the elements that make them so great. The extra challenge for OVO is that you also have to put a spin on the story that makes it work in the Roman Theatre venue, which is a very particular but amazing location in itself.
There’s been many screen adaptations of Sherlock Holmes – what do you think audiences will experience differently in this staged version?
In comparison to filmed versions, we have four actors who’ll be playing around 25 characters between them, in many different locations. So it will be an incredible display of the talent and versatility of our actors – as well as our set and costume designer!
Although I’ll be keeping the specifics of which Sherlock Holmes stories I’ve chosen a secret, I will say that I’ve chosen ones that really suit being staged because of their quirky and hilarious details. For instance, you might not expect to get employment based on having bright red hair… but in the world of Sherlock Holmes you do!
Describe your adaptation in three words
I would say: Respectful (to the original novels), Irreverent and Funny.
Though there’s also a real heart to it through the beautiful friendship between Sherlock and Dr Watson, so I’m going to sneak in a fourth word – heart.
Sherlock Holmes is full of mysteries and intricate puzzles – why do you think we can’t get enough of mystery stories?
Firstly, I think because these stories are all ultimately about human nature – looking at what drives people to do certain, often terrible things.
But also, I think there’s nothing better than figuring out something out before it is explained to you on page or screen – or this time, on stage.
Why should audiences come and see the show
If you like intrigue, mystery, puzzles, crimes, wit, humour, style, panache, adventure, drama, love, passion, you should come and watch it!
What do you hope audiences will get out of watching the show?
I hope people will be trying to work out the answers to those puzzles themselves. Who done it? How done it? Where done it? Why done it? All the “done its”.
And finally, which iconic Sherlock line are you most excited to hear on stage?
There are far too many to choose from. All I’ll say is this – the line we all think of as being the most famous, isn’t actually in any of the original stories (but you might hear it anyway!)
You can see OVO’s production of Sherlock Holmes at the OVO Roman Theatre Open Air Festival from 5th – 20th June 2026.
Book you tickets today by clicking the button below.